welcome to a special edition of "early today wroish "the world reacting to the loss of a global icon as news spread of nelson mandela's death. >> we've lost one of the most influential, courageous, and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. he no longer belongs to us. he belongs to the ages. >> this friday morning we'll take you to south africa and look at the man who spent so much of his life behind bars. yet, his words and actions continue to have a profound impact around the world. in other news this day, much of the u.s. bracing for a major winter storm with snow, ice, and plunging temperatures. "early today" starts right now.

45 4556 good morning to you. i'm richard lui. he is known for changing the world. people around the globe mourning the loss of nelson mandela. from a small prison cell he empowered a nation. his humility helped to revolutionize south africa. >> his tireless struggle for freedom gave him the respect of the world. >> his journey to president embody the promise that human beings ask countries can change for the better. >> we should have the same type of spirit and caring of the people and as a nation. >> we go to roba from johannesburg. this is not unexpected given

mr. mandela's house. we might ask now how are south africans reacting? >> reporter: richard, news of nelson mandela's death was announced just before midnight. so inevitably still today many of south africans are still learning the news that the father of this nation passed away during the evening. here his suburban home in johannesburg many hundreds of people have come. the mood here is not somber at all, though. there have been very few people here in tears. people have come to celebrate his life and the lives that they've been able to achieve and to live as a result of his sacrifice. people here also wondering precisely what happens next, and we're awaiting details in the next few hours about a lying in state and about nelson mandela's burial, which once diplomats are saying that the plan resembled the biggest state funeral for

any former leader south of winston churchill. >> thank you. rohi for us in south africa. now to nbc's brian williams with a look at mandela's incredible life and unwavering spirit. >> to deny any person human rights is the challenge of very humanity. >> reporter: nelson mandela called his life a long walk to freedom, a struggle to end south africa's racist system of aparthe apartheid. as a young lawyer and activist he initially advocated peaceful resistance. >> police fired point-blank into the crowd. >> reporter: south african police killed scores of anti-apartheid demonstrators. for nelson mandela, it was a turning point. >> there are many people who feel that it is useless and

futile for us to continue talking peace and nonviolence against a government whose rely is the savage attack on unarmed, defenseless people. >> reporter: the anc was banned. he became an outlaw, but he refused to back down. arrested in 1962 mandela was charged with sabotage and with attempting to violently overthrow the government. he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. for decades the struggle for justice in south africa continued with the imprisoned nelson mandela as its symbol. at times he was forced to break rocks in the hot sun for hours at a time. the government offered mandela freedom if he would renounce violence. he refused. >> today marks the 25th year behind bars for nelson mandela. >> reporter: south africa became an international outcast, facing

sanctions, boycotts, and growing political pressure. >> nelson mandela should be released to participate in the country's political process. ♪ >> reporter: rock concerts for the cause were broadcast around the world. ♪ hey, mandela >> the release of nelson mandela. >> reporter: in 1989 south africa's hardline president p.w.bota resigned, replaced by f.w. clark who slowly began to dismantle apartheid. the ban on the anc was lifted, and on february 11th, 1990 nelson mandela walked to freedom. >> nelson mandela, free at last and back among his people. >> i thank you all in the name of peace. >> reporter: 27 years in prison had not weakened mandela's resolve.

>> as long as the government has not -- >> reporter: but he also urged restraint, even forgiveness telling blacks to "throw their guns into the sea" and reassuring anxious whites. >> we want them to feel safe. >> reporter: mandela's courage and sacrifice were recognized around the world. in america he was welcomed as a hero. mandela and declerk were awarded the nobel peace prize in 1993. the following year in the first mixed race election in south africa's history, nelson mandela was elected president. >> today is the day like no other before it. >> reporter: we were the first to interview him on that first morning as president-elect. mandela tempered south africa's joy when he said healing his country would take time. >> it cannot be done overnight.

it will take one year, two years, even as much as five years. >> reporter: from enemy of the state to head of state, nelson mandela's walk to freedom became a journey shared by his entire nation. >> i have never been so excited and hopeful in my life in south africa as i am now. >> reporter: years later nelson mandela paid a return visit to his former prison cell. this time accompanied by president bill clinton, who later presented him with a congressional gold medal. mandela stepped down as president in 1999, but he lived long enough to see america swear in its own first black president, and he was paid a visit many south africa by first lady michelle obama who brought along her daughters. nelson mandela's south africa

embraced a multi-racial future and re-entered the family of nations. he leaves a legacy of freedom and proof that one life can make a difference. >> we are one country. we are one people. >> reporter: brian williams, nbc news, new york. >> we will have more on mandela's death in just a moment, but, first, some other stories developing this friday. you are watching many americans experiencing a massive weren't storm blasting its way across much of the country. take a look at oklahoma. a number of accidents there have been reported due to the recent snow accumulation. temperatures in missouri dipping so low that roads became sheets of ice, leaving drivers just like that, sliding all over the streets. nbc's meteorologist bill karens has more on that for us. we've got that, and we also have what's happening in the west. >> there's a new storm coming. we have bitterly cold temperatures, northern rockies. winter just, boom, just all of a sudden slapping everyone in the face. look at this map.

pink shows the winter storm warnings. we have some in northern california and oregon. we have winter storm warnings from dallas, texas, into areas of ohio. ice storm warnings in arkansas and tennessee. dangerous wind chills in it is northern plains. i saw one in the negative 20 to negative 30 range. we've heard about 1,200 flights cancel from the dallas area to little rock to memphis. that's where the worst of the ice is. especially northern arkansas and tennessee. northern arkansas, those people could be without power for a week. imagine that. as far as the west goes, you can barely see it riding down the coast lien. right now it's right off the washington coast, and it's got plenty of cold air to work with. 48 hour snowfall forecast. not so much around portland, but once you get south around eugene, higher totals around the hills and mountains there. around bedford, snow in some of the lower elevations, and look at the forecast for tahoe going up i-80. going to be very difficult this evening into tomorrow morning.

as much as 12 to 18 inches of snow. that's not going to be in the sacramento area, but just north of there, those places will g changing over to snow red bluff, california xshgs sacramento, cold rain for you. >> it is cold. it's been cold. yesterday was very cold even around san francisco, napa, and this morning is no different. >> if are you trying to get away for the weekend, bring the sleeping bags. you could get stuck on the road. >> thank you, bill karens. much more on the words and life of nelson mandela. he fought tirelessly for the rights and liberty of all south africans. famously saying "our march to freedom is irreversible. we must not allow fear to stand in our way."

now for others stories making news this morning. vice president biden wrapping up his visit to china on thursday. he raised the issue of the treatment of u.s. journalists in the country. nearly two dozen journalists from different u.s. publications are in daenk of not having their visas renewed by year's end. biden argued newspaper should be able to report the truth without fear of consequences. during an msnbc exclusive interview chris matthews asked president obama who would be a better president, joe biden or hillary clinton? here's his answer. >> both hillary and joe would make outstanding presidents and possess the qualities that are needed to be outstanding presidents. police have arrested an 18-year-old for allegedly stealing a part from the porsche involved in the crash that killed paul walker. the suspect even posted photos of the roof panel you see here on-line bragging about that grab. the navy announced a

successful larchlg of a drone from a submerged submarine on thursday. the unmanned aircraft was -- it flew for several hours while transmitting live video. with that, we'll be right back.

the death of nelson mandela is being felt all around the world. joining me now for more on his life and leg as where i is u.s.

congresswoman barbara lee of california joining us on the phone right now. representative lee, good morning to you. >> good morning, richard. >> thanks for stopping by. when you pushed for congress yam sanctions against south africa in 1986, did you think it would result in the mandela metamorphasis that we saw, he becoming what he did? >> i think that first it took a while for congressman -- i worked for him for 11 years, and he was a great statesman who knew that introducing the sanctions bill over and over and over again, i think about 12 times, that sooner or later -- president reagan vetoed it, and the congress overroad it. sooner or later the united states would be on the right side of history in terms of sanctions. >> right side of history, and then after that the falling of apartheid. >> the falling of apartheid, and the election -- well, first of all, the release of president mandela after the negotiations

and then him being elected president of south africa, and i think what president mandela showed us was that there's an awesome possibility of the human spirit. first of all, he was never broken. most people who have been through what he has gone through would be bitter. they would be angry. president mandela was a freedom fighter, and he was one who worked and fought all of his life based on the principal that he was going to end or lead the end of apartheid south africa along with the people. >> and a representative, an icon of human rights, and part of that women's rights. by some measurements in south africa, it is more advanced than the united states. what did he mean, president mandela -- what did he mean for women's rights? >> president mandela showed the rest of south africa and the rest of the world that women are truly equal. women are equal partners in everything in life, and also, he

had a vision for the world where everyone would be free to be who they want to be and who they should be, and also, i have to remind us that president mandela was one of the very first to come out to address h.i.v. and aids. his son died of aids, and very few african leaders would take that on. very few leaders in our own country. president mandela took on the issue with bold vision. he was always fighting for justice for women and for the freedom of the south african people and really more global peace and security. >> okay. thank you so much, representative barbara lee for stopping by this morning from california. appreciate your time. >> my pleasure. >> we'll be right back.

cold morning in the west. look at the temperatures. this, obviously, is glaring. minus 20 in wyoming. 27 in sacramento. 28 in vegas this morning. this isn't even factoring any breeze in out there which makes the temperatures feel even lower with the wind chill, and with the storm coming down the coast, the recipe for a little mini-snowstorm. northern california later today and then the mountains of the central and northern sierra and eventually some of the mountains there and the hills in northern arizona and even southern portions of utah too. again, be careful traveling. a little rain too in big cities, but not a lot. >> that weather in los angeles, they're breaking out the parka and the big uggs right now i think. >> they wear the uggs when it's 80. >> this is true, but it's

exceptionally cold is what you are making the point. did you watch that game, by the way? >> i did not. >> battle of two teams, lackluster records. in sports we're watching that for you. nfl last night. we've got some records that were set. jaguars win their first home game in more than a year and now hold the longest winning streak in the afc, while houston reaches a team record 11th loss in a row. another dubious record for that team. 177 yards in penalties in that one game. yeah, you can bet this one, the jaguars won it 27-20. sports stars also reacting to the passing of nelson mandela. portugal's soccer star christiano ronaldo thanking mandela for his legacy and example. brazil's pelee tweeted a photo of him kissing mandela's head saying he was one of the most influential people in his life. of course, we'll probably hear from more sports stars from around the world as time goes on. to entertainment now. a manned written lyric sheet for bruce springsteen's 1975 hit

"born to run" selling at auction for $197,000 on thursday. sotheby's did not reveal the identity of that buyer. prince william and duchess kate were attending the royal premier of mandela long walk to freedom when they were informed of the death of nelson mandela. william offered his condolences. >> i just want to say of the extremely sad and tragic news, which reminds us what an extraordinary and inspiring man nelson man demma was, and my thoughts and prayers with him and his family right now. >> of course, the special relationship that nelson mandela had with queen elizabeth calling each other by first names. very uncommon for the queen to have that. >> the outpouring is incredible. >> absolutely. >> i'm richard lui, and this is "early today." we hope it's just your first stop of the day right here on nbc.

leading the news around the world. nation mourns. south africa has lost its greatest son as madiva dies at 85. sfwlimplts south africa's apartheid as fighter, pioneer, president, and symbol. "no one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. people must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." the washington post, a nation's healer is dead. the prisoner who became president. south african leader was symbol of moral force. in "time magazine" protester, peace maker, nelson mandela 1918

to 2013. south africa's former president was a man of powerful actions and words. here is he in his own words before the u.s. congress in 1990. >> let us keep our arms linked together so that we form a solid against racism. this morning, u.s. and world leaders are reacting to the news of his death. >> he was a moral force the

likes of which have not been seen. >> nobody has ever matched the incredible inspiration and humanity of melson mandela. former president bill clinton released a statement, in part, saying, "mandela proved that there is freedom in forgiving and a big heart is better than a closed mind, and that life's real victories must be shared." former secretary of state hillary clinton tweeted this, saying, "nelson mandela was a champion for justice and human dignity with unmatched grace. i'll remember him as madiba, truly an uncompromising soul. house of speaker john boehner says "he passes this world as champion of peace." david cameron tweeted, "a great light has gone out in the world. nelson man dell extra was a hero of our time." on the "today" show later this morning former secretary of state colin powell talks about the life and legacy of nelson mandela. i'm richard lui. thanks for watching "early today."

remembering a hero, how people across the world are coming together today to honor the leg goosy of former south african president nelson mandela. >> a statewide amber alert in effect after this 14-year-old is abducted from washington state. where authorities think the suspect is taking her. >> and city streets turning to a rushing river. we're going to tell you how this mess causing concern for the morning commute. >> a live look outside this morning, it's another chilly day but it's friday, december 6th, and this is "today in the bay." >> good morning.